The Liturgy and Lent

As we embark on our journey through Lent it’s important that our liturgies reflect the penitential season. You will notice a few important additions—and subtractions—here at Nativity of Our Lord. I’d like to explain a bit of why we do what we do so that we can all enter more deeply into this time of fasting, abstinence, and conversion to Christ.

At some of the weekend Masses, you will notice the addition of Gregorian Chant sung by the cantor during the Offertory, as well as Psalms that are chant-like in nature. While this may seem like we are going backwards into a long-forgotten tradition that has fallen by the wayside, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, chant “should be given pride of place in liturgical services,” according to Vatican II.

No, Gregorian Chant is alive and well, and has the ability to help us grow in obedience and humility by its simplicity and solemnity. It is neither new or the so-called latest thing, and so does not distract away from the sacred words being sung. In its simplicity, void of any harmony, chant focuses on the text itself and is meant to highlight the beauty of the words, allowing for a greater solemnity in prayer and worship. While you may not hear chant at the contemporary Masses, the use of the Taize-style of worship adequately lends itself to a contemplative and solemn form of worship.

You will also notice a lack of any preludes and postludes (organ or piano music before and after Mass). The rubrics of the liturgy ask us to avoid solo organ music during Lent, a penitential season when we asked to go without. The same applies to music in the liturgy: we fast, if you will, from a legitimate and beautiful form of music in order to accentuate the organ’s triumphant return at Easter.

The Church does allow for an exception on the fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday), which is considered a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigors, to be enjoyed as a day of hope with Easter at last within sight.

We pray that our liturgies over these 40 days will help you to enter more deeply into the transformative season of Lent.